President Makes Demonstration Flight with F-16 Fighter at US Air Force's Invitation

President Rumen Radev ready for a demonstration flight aboard an F-16 fighter jet, Graf Ignatiev Air Base, South Central Bulgaria, September 13, 2024 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Graf Ignatievo Air Base, South Central Bulgaria,

13.09.2024 12:12

(BTA)

President Rumen Radev Friday made a demonstration flight from Graf Ignatievo Air Base with an F-16 fighter jet at the invitation of the US Air Force. "This flight takes me back to 2005, when I was the commander of the air base, when I approached the US Air Force with a proposal to base the F-16 in Bulgaria instead of Aviano. Thus, we started an extremely fruitful cooperation between the US Air Force and the Bulgarian Air Force," the head of State told journalists after the flight.

In Radev's words, then, with the very first collisions in the skies over Graf Ignatievo, they realised that the Bulgarian model of flight training was very rigid and backward. "With many hours of theory on the ground, many aerial battles and the support of our American colleagues, we began a very complex and difficult process of a profound transformation of our Air Force," the President said. He pointed out that many advanced tactics, techniques and procedures were then mastered in a short period, as well as the full capabilities of the MIG-29 aircraft. "Our pilots in the air are no longer inferior to their American counterparts," Radev said.

The head of State said that he was convinced that with the receipt of the F-16 Block 70, the limitations related to the obsolete equipment would be lifted. According to him, the Bulgarian pilots who are in the US receive only the initial training for flying the F-16. "In order for us to be able to use the full capabilities of this wonderful aircraft, we will have to continue to cooperate with the Aviano Air Base pilots," Radev added.

Radev presented Brigadier General Tad Clark, Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, US Air Force, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, with the President's Medal of Honor. The award is for his significant contribution to the strategic defence cooperation between Bulgaria and the United States.

/RY/